Guilin and the nearby village of Yangshuo have long been recognised as one of the most beautiful in China - the gentle rivers and limestone karst scenery the subject of innumerable paintings.

Explore the countryside and tiny rural villages; be invited into farmhouses for a scrumptious home-cooked meal; wander village markets; or volunteer to give an English lesson in the local school. Then spend the evening relaxing with a cold drink in one of Yangshuo's many cafes - serving Chinese and Western foods.

Nearby the Longjii - Dragon's Backbone - rice terraces are a sight not to be missed. Hike through the magnificent terraces that cover the side of 800-meter hillsides, visiting local minority groups along the way. Stay in a traditional hillside village and perhaps attend a cultural show. These terraces change with the seasons - sometimes filled with pure water from the mountains, then green during the growing season and later, golden-coloured when the rice is ready to be harvested. From our basic accommodation high up in the hills, we have magnificent views of the valley.